Community invited to poetry reading with former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera 

The community is invited to hear a poetry reading and craft talk from former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera at 12 p.m. on Sept. 18 in the Chalberg Theatre, Central Lakes College Brainerd campus.  

The event is hosted by Verse Like Water: The visiting poet program of CLC. Herrera is making his second appearance at the college. He was the first Latino to be named US Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress in 2015. 

“My friend U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera calls himself a ‘political poet,’ which is to say he and his poems are deeply concerned about human beings who have suffered,” said Jeff Johnson, Director of Verse Like Water and CLC English instructor. “We all take our turns with suffering, and I think we would all be happier if we sought the company and words of great poets like Juan Felipe. He, like the previous 42 poets of Verse Like Water, offers true friendship, and most importantly beauty, which is a fundamental source of human happiness.” 

Herrera has donated part of his honorarium to purchase and offer his book “Half the World in Light: New and selected poems” to attendees.